Encouraging Preliminary Data from a Phase 2 Trial Evaluating IO102-IO103 in Combination with Pembrolizumab for First-line Treatment of Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck Presented at the European Soci

NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IO Biotech (Nasdaq: IOBT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulating therapeutic cancer vaccines, announced encouraging preliminary data from the company’s Phase 2 basket trial of IO102-IO103 in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) (IOB-022/KN-D38) at the ESMO Congress being held in Madrid from October 20-24, 2023. Jonathan Riess, MD, lead investigator of the trial at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, shared encouraging clinical and biomarker data from patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with PD-L1 TPS ≥ 50% and recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) with PD-L1 CPS ≥ 20. As of the data cut off for this poster presentation, 10 out of 18 evaluable NSCLC patients (56%) had achieved a partial response as their best overall response and 3 out of 6 evaluable SCCHN patients had achieved partial response as their best overall response.

Dr. Riess commented, “These preliminary data further support the potential of combining IO102-IO103 and pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic NSCLC and recurrent/metastatic SCCHN. Although it is early in the study, we are encouraged by these data as they indicate that the activity with this combination is favorable compared to historical controls.”

“The data presented today strengthen the evidence that IO102-IO103 plus a PD-1 inhibitor may improve upon the activity expected from treatment with a PD-1 inhibitor alone,” said Qasim Ahmad, Chief Medical Officer of IO Biotech. “Emerging data from this basket study and the prior melanoma Phase 1/2 study (MM1636) are building evidence on the effect of this combination as a first line treatment in patients with three types of metastatic solid tumors – melanoma, NSCLC and SCCHN. Although the data from this Phase 2 study are still evolving, 5/10 NSCLC and 3/3 SCCHN patients with partial responses had more than 180 days progression-free survival (PFS) and are ongoing. We look forward to receiving additional longer-term data that could demonstrate durability of response in numerous types of cancers.”